After two hours:
Aryaman
With Mukti's insistence I went home to freshen up. But all my way that horrifying scene flashed in my mind. How could I be so careless with her? The moment I reached the accident spot, I couldn't feel my heart beating. What if I had lost her? What would I say to Manik and the gang? What would I say to myself?
Mom was waiting for me in the living room. As soon as I entered, she came to me. I could see clearly that she cried so much.
"Arya, Mukti kaisi hain? Hosh toh aaya na use" she asked.
"Mom relax. She's fine. Uski surgery kal raath ko hi ho gayi thi and she's okay now. Hosh bhi aa gaya use" I said.
"Tu yahaa kyu aaya use akela chodh ke?" her next question.
"Manik is here mom. Subah ko aaya tha, toh mein fresh ho ne ghar aaya but I will go back soon" I replied.
"Mein bhi chalooongi tere saath and no more arguments. Jaldhi se fresh ho ke aa, I will pack some food for you people. Don't worry use dhekh ke waapas aa jaaoongi and I won't tire myself up" she said.
"Cool. Abhi aaya mein" I said and went to my room. By the time I freshened up mom was ready with food....lots of food.
"Maa Mukti is still a patient. Ithnaa khaana?" I asked her.
"Chup kar aur chal jaldhee, I can't wait to see my daughter" she said. Waah Mother Sentiment.
At the hospital:
Before seeing Mukti, I had another patient. So I asked a nurse to guide mom to Mukti's room while I headed to check on the other patient. While I was done and went to Mukti's room, I saw her still sitiing outside in the chair I spent the whole last night,
"Maa aap andhar kyu nai gayi?" I asked her.
"Wohh log so rahe hain Arya and I wasn't sure" she said.
"It's okay. Let's go in. It's time for Mukti's medicine and use kuch tests ke liye leke jaana hain so anyway she'll get up" I said and picked up the food bag for her.
The two siblings were sleeping so cutely. Glad she found him I thought. He loves her so much. It's that thing with brothers, they can't see their little sisters in pain.
"Mukti" I said in a low voice but that woke up Manik first.
"Hey you're back" he said getting up.
"Aunty aap, come sit" Manik said getting up from his chair.
Mom sat on the chair and held Mukti's hand.
"Beta Mukti" she said patting her forehead and Mukti moved a little.
"Open your eyes slowly" I said and she did.
"Any better?" I asked her.
She nodded her head with a smile.
"I will be right back" Manik said and went out of the room.
-----------------
At Nandini's office, two hours before:
It was all hustle-bustle. Fire men, fire engines, police cars, ambulances...
Matt looked around in every possible place but couldn't find her anywhere. He finally made his way and reached the barricades that stopped civilians from going any further.
"Officer, let me go in" he said. He was scared...scared to death...
"I am sorry but I cannot let you in" the officer replied.
"My friend..I guess she's inside. She is pyro phobic. Officer please let me go" he pleaded. But still he wasn't allowed to go any further.
"Our men are in and don't worry. It's not too big of a fire, we will get your friend out safely" the officer said.
"Manik! I need to call Manik" he thought and tried calling him, zillion times. But he wasn't picking up.
"Pick up Manik please" he thought and called again and again, but no use.
"His uncle, he sure must help us" he thought and dialed up uncle's number.
"Hello Uncle? This is Matt. Manik and Nandini's friend" he said.
"Hello Matty, good to hear from you" uncle said cheerfully.
"Uncle there's a problem" Matt said.
"Problem? What's that? Are they fine?" he asked about MaNan.
"Uncle Nandini's office caught fire, the same floor in which she works. Uncle you know Nandini is scared of fire. I have been trying to reach Manik but he isn't picking up my calls" Matt said.
"Oh God! I will be there soon, meanwhile you just keep trying to reach him" uncle said hung up. After 30 minutes, uncle reached the office.
"What's the situation?" he asked Matt.
"The fire is off now and they are trying to bring out people who are still inside and I dunno where this stupid lady is" he said.
"Why can't she understand the fire alarm is to alert people to go out from there and not to sit there listening to it in all panic" he said. He was scared now.
"Relax, it's her work place so I am sure she must be with her colleagues somewhere and what about Manik?" uncle asked.
"No luck" Matt said.
"He isn't at home as well, the guard said he left somewhere last night and didn't come back even by morning" he added.
"Hmm, where could he possibly go?" uncle thought.
Amidst their talks, they saw their girl coming out in a gurney.
"Nandini" they said together and rushed to her.
"Is she alright" uncle asked the officer who was carrying the gurney
"She probably passed out due to panic, we are shifting her to the ER (Emergency Room)" the officer said and soon the ambulance was also there. Uncle was in his car, while Matt was in the ambulance with her.
"Where the hell is Manik?" Matt thought trying to call him again and again.
Soon they reached the hospital and she was moved to the ER. Matt and uncle had to wait out.
Present:
Manik came out to call Nandini as he didn't even inform her that he reached. He took out his phone 30 missed calls from Matt.
"30 missed calls? Is it about Nandini?" he thought and called him immediately.
Mt: Manik! Finally! Where have you been all this while?
Mk: What is it Matt? I tried calling Nandu and her phone is switched off
Mt: it's a bad news, her office caught fire, the floor in which she works and now we are moving her to the ER
Mk: What?
He collapsed on his knees, in loss of words.
Mt: She passed out, I hope it's nothing serious. But where are you?
Mk: Mukti, she met with an accident last night and I am with her right now
Mt: Why do all things come up at once? You don't worry I called up Rajiv uncle and he's with us. I will ask William to come to the hospital
Mk: I will start off in a while, But Matt please take care of her.
Mt: Sure you don't worry
He felt as if someone stabbed him in his heart. Before he could get out of one trauma another one, and at that moment, he had to decide between his two angels.
"Why couldn't something like that happen with me? Why should they suffer?" he thought. Aryaman, not seeing him come back went to see him and was shocked to see him in that state.
"Manik" he said.
He didn't respond, instead was dialing someone's number.
"Hello uncle" he said, trying to control his tears.
"Manik beta, kaha ho tum? I have been trying to reach you" he said.
"Uncle please Nandini ka khayaal rakh na, mein Mukti ke saath hoon uncle and jithna jaldhee ho sake mein aa jaaoonga" Manik said.
"Is Mukti fine? Waha kyu gaye tum?" Uncle asked.
"She met with an accident uncle" Manik said.
"Ahh! Everything at once, okay tum chinthaa mat karo, i will take care until you are here" uncle said.
"Thankyou uncle" Manik said and hung up.
"Manik hua kya hain?" Aryaman asked.
"Aryaman I need to go back" he said.
"Par hua kya hain?" Arya asked again and he narrated him everything.
"is she fine?" he asked.
"I don't know, they moved her to the ER. I just hope she's fine" he said.
"Okay, tum joa I will take care of Mukti" Aryaman said.
"Why is it all so messed up? I cannot leave Mukti like this either and I can't stay here doing nothing after knowing about Nandini" he said.
"Manik pehle tum utho, come sit here" he said lifting him up and made him sit on the chair.
"Listen, Mukti is getting better, agar kuch hoga bhi toh I am there mom is there with her. but nandini needs you Manik, so tum yahaa ki chinta mat karo and go" Arya tried to calm him down.
"I think you are right, chal Mukti ko bathaake jaathaa hoon" he said while Aryaman stopped him.
"The nurse is helping her change uske baadh she needs to go for X-ray. It's okay use mein bathaadhoonga, tum jaao" he said.
"But how can I go without seeing her?" Manik said.
"Manik! Go now" Aryaman said in a stern voice. And Manik had to leave.
At Nandini's hospital:
"Her throat is all dried up, and luckily as the fire was in the other side, she didn't even have any burns. It's due to panic that she fainted and she should be up in an hour" the doctor said after checking her.
"Thank you Doctor" uncle said.
As the doctor said, Nandini was awake after an hour. The doctor again checked on her and said that she's fine.
Matt and uncle came in now, as the doctor said they can meet her.
--------------
Nandini
I came back from my presentation and to the best of my luck it went really well. I am pretty sure they must have been impressed with both the slides and my way of presenting. I came back to my desk and was waiting for Manik's call. Has he reached already? I was nervous for Mukti too. I couldn't see him like that last night when he came to me to tell that he was leaving. His eyes were yelling pain. I so wanted to go with him and I regret for telling him about the presentation I had today. Hadn't I told him, I would've gone with him too.
And then I thought of calling him by myself. I got up to get a coffee for myself and was walking back to my desk, when I heard the fire alarm. Wrong timing! I wasn't ready for this. No one in my office knew that I am scared of fire. The alarm was beeping continuously and everyone were running around finding their way to the closest fire exits. I didn't know what to do.
I just sat in a corner, not knowing what to do, I guess I even couldn't breathe, it was so suffocating. I was just chanting Manik's name even after knowing that he isn't going to be here. He's going to me scold badly, for not taking care of myself in his absence. But how am I going to get out of here?
"Hello! Is anybody there? Please get me out of here" I screamed at the loudest of my voice, but in vain. I guess the entire floor is already vacated.
I didn't even know when I passed out and now when I open my eyes I see Matt and dad here.
"Matty" I said after seeing Matt, first thing I said.
"You're fine right?" Matt asked.
I was feeling a little weak and dizzy so I just nodded my head. I was pretty sure he wasn't convinced.
"Why didn't you give me a call? Why do you think I am there in the next building? Now I have no choice but to shift my office for you crazy girl" he said.
"We barely have a week here" I said.
"Shut up, you can get into problems in the wildest hours possible. Not happening dude! Not going to leave you alone anymore. Or better option, let me put it up on the notice board, Miss Nandini is scared of fire, in case there's a fire alarm, help her in getting out. Don't you think this is better?" he asked. Sarcastic.
"I am fine Matt, relax" I tried to explain.
"Didn't you hear when I said shut up?" he asked.
"I did. Fine. Zip" I said and closed my mouth. And now Will was here.
"You don't leave a chance to make me feel like a patient Matt. I am fine, huff and I am glad Manik isn't here. I can't even imagine all possible things he would do, if he were here" I said.
"He'll be there soon" he replied. What? No!!!!! Teri toh death hi ho gayi aaj Nandu
"You didn't have to inform him, Dad why didn't you stop him? Mukti needs him and she is probably suffering more than me" I said, but to whom? They are so ziddhi.
"Nandini, Manik needs to know everything about you. There's nothing wrong in informing him. And for your information, Mukti is fine now. Her surgery went well and there's nothing to worry about" dad said.
"I know, but he is definitely going to panic" I said.
"Why don't you talk to him?" dad said and gave his phone dialing Manik's number.
------------------
Manik
Well, I don't even have an idea about how I am even able to drive. Half part of my heart, I left it in Mukti's hospital room and the other half, which I don't think is even functioning anymore is with me. It's become numb and I cannot feel it beating. I have always told nandini that she completes my heart beat. She is the perfect partner for it. But today, I miss my partner. I have been through enough tragedies and I am weak now, I cannot take anything more. I would rather prefer dying before I would have to hear any such things.
Nandini's and my favorite song was playing in the music system, I couldn't stop myself from humming along, and it so fits in to what I am going through right now
kabhi chup chup rahe...kabhi zid pe aa jaye..
bas ek tareeka doondhe jisse tujhko paa jaye..
kabhi tujh bin jee loonga ...kabhi mar jaonga mein
tujhse sau batein karta haie... khud ko barmayein...re
mann mera....❤️
Maane na mann mera.....❤️❤️
The songs were continuously playing until I heard my phone ring. It was from uncle. Now I am scared to take this call, guessing what all I would have to hear.
"Hello uncle" I said.
"Manik".. I heard her voice..my potato.. she's fine.. Thankyou mom thankyou dad!
"Princess" I said.
"Manik statue" she said. And screeeechhh... a sudden break.
"Manik I am fine, you don't have to come here. Mukti needs you" she said.
"Will you let me talk?" I asked.
"Talk" she said.
"I love you" I said, I was trying so hard not to break down.
"I love you too" she said
"I left you for one day and you ended up in a hospital" I said. I heard her giggle. Seriously? Here I am trying hard not ot cry and she's giggling.
"Nandini I am serious" I said.
"Is it my fault if there was a fire in my office? Come on Manik" she said. How can she take it so lightly?
"I thought I made you a strong girl, but you know what, you failed me" I said.
"Manik" she said sadly.
"What Manik? I had you take that fire drill session, I left you in the fire station for two hours and you were fine, I thought you were getting over it, but no, you don't want to move on" I said. I was pretty upset.
"I am sorry" she said.
"Be sorry for yourself Nandini" I replied and she hung up. She hung up on me?
I called back and this time uncle lift the call.
"Manik beta, kyu rulaaya tum ne use?" uncle said.
"Uncle aap bhi usee ki side le rahe ho" I said.
"Of course mein apni beti ki hi side loonga na, acha tum jaldhee aao let's talk when you are here, Abhi she says she doesn't want to talk to you" uncle said, Ziddhi ladki
"Uncle can you put the phone on speaker?" I asked and he did.
"Oh madam! What about your phone?" I said.
"Uncle tell him I lost it" I could hear her angry slash sad voice. She must be having that cute angry pout, cheeks all flustered.
Another job now.
"Great! I had so many important things in that mobile and you lost it?" I said.
"Manik that's my phone, how will your things be saved in it?" she said.
"All what's yours is mine too. And there are so many pictures of ours, so many text messages I sent. Don't you know how valuable they are?" I said.
"How materialistic! I hate you Manik, and I am not going to talk to you" she said.
"You don't sound sick at all and now I regret for worrying so much about you" I said just to pull her leg, but I guess I hit the wrong shot.
"I knew it. Please go back to your sister, I am not going to see your face" she said.
"Nandini, I was kidding baba" I said.
"Uncle I want to rest for a while" I heard her voice. The speaker was off.
"Bohoth bolthe ho tum Manik! abhi aao tum and handle her yourself" uncle said and hung up. Now I had to drive at double speed.
After a long drive for 7 hours, I stopped at best buy to get her a new phone.
She was using an iphone 6s so I got her the same one and had the service installed.
I got it wrapped and left for the hospital.
In Nandini's room:
I looked through the peep hole on the door and saw my angel reading one of her favorite novels, Paper towns. I don't know why she loves it so much. Is she still angry with me?
I knocked the door and opened it, first there was a smile on her face, that later turned into frown. She wanted to lay back, but then I heard an ouch.
"Careful" I said and helped her lay down.
"Thanks" she replied.
"Are you still angry?" I asked her.
"No! I am sooo happy to see you" she said. I knew she didn't mean it,
"You don't seem that way, stop being sarcastic" I said.
"Why did you say that you regret coming to me huh" she said and started hitting me.
I was just letting her do, tired of it, she hugged me. Huff! I so wanted this. I hugged her back.
"Are you alright?" I asked her.
"I am fine now, after seeing you" she said.
"I am sorry I couldn't take Matt's calls, I was driving whole night, so I just dozed off and didn't notice that my mobile got switched off" I said.
She pulled off first, wiping her tears.
"Why are you crying" I asked.
"I am sorry that I failed you. I can do anything in the world but this. I got scared and chose a corner, that's the mistake I did, no one could see me struggling" she narrated the whole story.
"I am sorry too, I shouldn't have said that, you never fail me, but it's just that I thought you could move on from it, and was little upset. Fire out of all?" I asked.
"Hmm, how's Mukti?" she asked.
"She's doing better now, Arya just told me that she has been shifted to a normal room from ICU, which means she's recovering" I said.
"That's great" she said,
"How was your presentation?" I asked and she explained every bit of it. Glad, I could distract her.
"Acha I have something for you" I said and gave her the box,
"Whats in this?" she said trying to open the box and that's when I noticed the IV on her hand.
"Did it hurt?" I asked.
"I don't know, I was not conscious when they injected" she replied.
"Okay let me help you opening it" I said and opened the box for her.
"Phone? Manik, what's the hurry" she said.
"Of course there is. I cannot call a third person to talk to you, Now come on send me a text. First text from your new phone" I said.
"I won't" she said showing her tongue.
"Why won't you?" I asked.
"I will send first text to Cabir" she said.
"That phone has just my number saved" I said showing my teeth now. Trying to imitate her.
"Then I will send to some random number" she said an actually started dialing random numbers.
"Nandini, you are crazy" I said.
And that's when I heard my phone beep.
"I love you sona munda" I saw her text. Couldn't help but hug her.
"I was so damn scared" I said. She hugged me with just one hand, the other caressing my face. She suddenly pulled off and laid down on the bed.
"Sleep" she said.
"Nandini, tum so jaao aaraam se, I am fine here" I said.
"But I am not" she said and scoot a bit, creating more space for me.
"Two things, first one, sleep next to me and second sing for me" she said.
"If you have lost your mind or something, let me remind you this is a hospital" I said.
"I know and I am completely fine with it, no one is going to interrupt us" she said. I had no choice but to say yes. I removed my blazer and laid down next to her and she immediately shifted her head over my heart.
"I always put you up in tough situations like this na, I know how difficult it was for you to come here leaving Mukti behind" she said.
"Aisaa mat socho nandini, it's not like that" I said.
"It's okay Manik, I can feel you" she said,
"You want to know what I really think or feel right now?" I asked.
"Yes and please be honest" she said.
Hhmmm......
Tenu itna main pyaar karaan
Ek pal vich sau baar karaan
Tu jaave je mainu chhad ke
Maut da intezaar karaan
I wrapped my hands around her tightly securing her in my hug,
Ke tere liye duniya chhod di hai
Tujhpe hi saans aake ruke
Main tujhko kitna chahta hoon
Ye tu kabhi soch na sake....
I was wearing a white buttoned shirt, and she had her hands over the buttons, fiddling with them. I always do the talk thing in between my song, but today I was silent. I was just singing and she was just feeling it. I hope she gets it.
Kuch bhi nahi hai ye jahaan
Tu hai toh hai isme zindagi
Ab mujhko jaana hai kahaan
Ke tu hi safar hai aakhiri
Ki teri ore mujhko leke chalein
Ye duniya bhar ke sab raaste
Main tujhko kitna chahta hoon
Ye tu kabhi soch na sake...
"Nandini, you mean the world to me, you know what yeh true love jo hotha hain na, you don't find it in your best times, when you feel life can't get any more messy, that's when you find it and the same thing happened with me. You have become the best change of my life. My life is nothing without you and I have nowhere to go, away from you. Every route of my life, starts and ends up with you. Your eyes and your heartbeat are my home. So, never ever compare yourself with nay one else in my life. You know why? Kyunki mein tujhko kithna chahtha hoon, yeh tu kabhi soch na sake" I said.
She looked up once at me, and hugged me tight, loss of words.
"I can't move mountains for you Nandini, but I promise we can climb them together" (lines taken from a page by name, Word Porn) I said implying this incident. As I promised her, she will find me in every step of her life.
I know kuch zyaadha hi lambaa ho gaya... sorry! I couldn't stop at any point...
Still, hope you enjoyed reading.
6 more to go !!! :)